Patents by Inventor R. Larry Comstock

R. Larry Comstock has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Disk drive with reduced electrostatic charge on slider-head assembly
    Patent number: 6324031
    Abstract: A common cause for catastrophic failure in a magnetic disk storage system is due to the collection of debris on the slider/head assembly. Two factors contributing to these failures are: a) disk liquid lubricant provides a sticky medium for debris accumulation; and b) electrostatic charge on the slider assembly generated by friction attracts and accumulates debris. A method for reducing electrostatic charge build-up uses a conductive coating on a surface area of the slider. By providing a conducting path to the metallic disk on which the recording medium is applied, the triboelectrically generated charge on the slider is allowed to bleed-off. Providing an additional overcoat of a solid self-lubricant, and forming a wedge-shaped slider load-bearing surface for deflection of surface debris, results in the reduction of both failure causes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: R. Larry Comstock, Naum V. Gitis, Robert L. Smith
  • Magnetic recorder apparatus with reduced debris accumlation on the recorder head and slider
    Patent number: 6084743
    Abstract: A common cause for catastrophic failure in a magnetic disk storage system is due to the collection of debris on the slider/head assembly. Two factors contributing to these failures are:a) disk liquid lubricant provides a sticky medium for debris accumulation; andb) electrostatic charge on the slider assembly generated by friction attracts and accumulates debris.A method for reducing electrostatic charge build-up uses a conductive coating on a surface area of the slider. By providing a conducting path to the metallic disk on which the recording medium is applied, the triboelectrically generated charge on the slider is allowed to bleed-off.Providing an additional overcoat of a solid self-lubricant, and forming a wedge-shaped slider load-bearing surface for deflection of surface debris, results in the reduction of both failure causes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: R. Larry Comstock, Naum V. Gitis, Robert L. Smith